Bring your non-perishable donations to the Library and receive a voucher worth up to $10 ($1 for every pound of food you donate).

Donations need to be in factory sealed packages and unbreakable containers, no glass jars please. No expired foods will be accepted. Vouchers are valid for one year to pay off overdue fines on any library account.

Monday, February 8, 2016

Aimee Meuchel, Teen Librarian for the Tualatin Public Library, was selected as Tualatin’s 2015 Employee of the Year.

After being named Tualatin’s first Teen Librarian in 2008, Aimee was instrumental in forming the Teen Library Committee. Through the Teen Library Committee, teens help Aimee and other library staff to plan and deliver programs for teens, children and families. Teens develop leadership, planning, and organizational skills through their work with the committee. She also developed and leads the Summer Teen Library program.

Aimee’s approachability, genuineness, creativity, care, and concern for the teens she mentors is what makes the Library Teen Room “the place to be”. Aimee was honored by the Oregon Young Adult Network at the 2015 Oregon Library Association Conference. The “You’re Excellent” Award was given in recognition for her positive and significant contribution to teens in Oregon libraries.

“I can think of no one more deserving of this award than Aimee” said Sherilyn Lombos, Tualatin City Manager. “Aimee’s dedication to the teens of our community and to building an amazing place for teens to be is inspiring and worthy of recognition.”

The Tualatin City Council will present Aimee with a proclamation at their February 22, 2016 business meeting.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Due to fiber maintenance work, all WCCLS websites will be down on Tuesday, February 9, from 12:01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. While we expect that we will back online at 6:00 a.m., unforeseen issues are always possible.

During this time, you will NOT be able to access the following services:

WCCLS catalog (searching, placing holds, etc.)

Your online account

WCCLS website

WCCLS events calendar

The telephone renewal line

Access to online research resources

Cloud Library

Library2Go Overdrive

We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you in advance for your patience!

Forest Grove City Library Youth Librarian Ann Dondero retired last week after 36 years of service. On the occasion of her retirement, Senator Jeff Merkley read the following tribute into the Congressional Record on January 27, 2016. Congratulations, Ann!

Photo from OregonLive.com

Mr. President, just about every successful person can point to a teacher or other adult who inspired and encouraged them as a child, a person who spurred curiosity and love of learning. Today I wish to recognize the hard work and dedication of one of my constituents who played that role for countless Oregonians, Ann Marion Furukawa Dondero, from Forest Grove.

Ann was raised in Sunnyside, WA, and graduated from Whitman College in 1966 with a psychology degree and a teacher’s certificate. She taught first grade for 3 years in St. Paul, MN, while her husband, Russ, completed graduate school and later taught second and fourth grade in Boiling Springs, PA, when Russ started his political science
teaching career.

When Ann and Russ moved their young family to Forest Grove, Ann continued her education and enrolled in night classes at Pacific University where Russ had started teaching. In addition to raising their two sons, Tony and Jason, Ann also began volunteering in Forest Grove’s library across the street from her classes.
Eventually, Ann’s enthusiasm to share her love of reading turned into a career spanning five decades. The library became Ann’s classroom where she worked with parents and caregivers to help children become active readers.

Photo from OregonLive.com

In 1975, Ann and her former colleague Barbara Dunnette organized BEAR month—Be Enthusiastic About Reading—at the Forest Grove Library, and the tradition has continued ever since. January 2016 will be the 37th annual BEAR month at Forest Grove.

Ann’s dedication and love of learning is an inspiration to our State and our Nation, and I have no doubt there are kids today who are better off because of Ann’s selfless devotion. I thank Ann for her many years of hard work and for the great things she has done to promote reading and literacy in the Forest Grove community.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a six week educational series designed to help unpaid family caregivers take care of themselves while caring for a relative or friend with a chronic illness. Caregivers develop a wealth of self-care tools to reduce personal stress, communicate their needs effectively in challenging situations, deal with difficult emotions, and make tough caregiving decisions.